BRIDGE

BRIDGE

East-West vulnerable, North deals

NORTH

xK 10 7

uQ 10 7

vA Q 10 2

w10 7 4

WEST EAST

xJ 4 xA 9 3

uA 9 8 5 3 uK J 4 2

v7 vJ 9 5 4

wA 9 8 6 3 wJ 5

SOUTH

xQ 8 6 5 2

u6

vK 8 6 3

wK Q 2

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1v Pass 1x 2u

2x 3u 4x All pass

Opening lead: Seven of v

North’s decision to open the bidding would not be everyone’s choice, and it led to a very poor contract. Still, there was hope. South only needed for the jack of trumps to fall, a good diamond split, and something good happening in clubs.

The opening diamond lead was won with dummy’s queen. South led a low spade to his queen and another spade to the jack, king, and ace. West, an excitable lad, was clearly showing his annoyance that East hadn’t risen with the trump ace at trick two and given him a diamond ruff. East wasn’t concerned, as he expected to take a diamond trick later.

East led the jack of clubs to the king and ace. West continued clubs to dummy’s 10. Declarer cashed the 10 of spades, drawing the last trump, came to his hand with the queen of clubs, and led a low heart. West rose majestically with his ace and continued hearts to the 10 and jack, ruffed by South. This was the position:

NORTH

xVoid

uQ

vA 10 2

wVoid

WEST EAST

xVoid xVoid

u9 8 uK

vVoid vJ 9 5

w8 6 wVoid

SOUTH

x5

uVoid

vK 8 6

wVoid

South cashed his last trump, discarding a diamond from dummy, and East couldn’t defend the position. No matter what he chose to discard, South had the rest of the tricks. Had West just kept calm and ducked his ace of hearts, this position could never have been reached and the contract would have been defeated.

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